Child&#39;s collapsible vehicle.



R. H. BROWN. CHILDS COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED .UEC. I4, 1914.

Patented July 11; 1916.

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CHILD'S COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED 0:0.14. 1914. 1 ,1 90,37 3. Patented July 11, 1916.-

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R. H. BROWN. U

CHILDS COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14, 1914. 1,190,373. Patented July 11, 1916.

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RHINEI-IARDT I-I. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GHILDS' COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed December 14, 1914. Serial No 877,019.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RHINEHARDT H. BROWN, a c1t1zen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook.

' provide a device of the class described which will collapse and fold up automatically when the parts are unlocked from the erected po sition, instead of having to collapse them by a positive movement, as has been the practice heretofore.

My invention is further concerned with certain novelcombinations and constructions in such devices, all as will be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto three sheets of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sulky in its erected position; Fig. 2 is a detail in central vertical section, between the wheel frames, showing the collapsing mechanism on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the complete device, on the same scale as Fig. 2, collapsed and standing on the ground; Fig. 4 is a detail showing the locking mechanism to hold the handle extended, on still a larger scale; Fig. 5 is a top plan view, on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3, on a horizontal section just'below the seat Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating the lock for holding the sulky in its erected position; Fig. 7 is a detail on an enlarged scale, illustrating the adjustable back support mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a detail in section on the line-AA of Fig. 7.

In the description of the invention, for convenience, I will assume that the main frame 10 is always stationary, and "that the other parts mentioned move relatively thereto in the collapsing and erecting movements. This main frame 10, as best seen in top plan view in Fig. 5, preferably consists of a horizontal, fiat steel bar bent in a U-shape to form the back and sides of the main frame, the front of which is formed by a flat bar 11 extending across the front and having its downturned ends riveted to the ends of the U-shaped main frame. The seat 12, which may be of any desired construction, is supported from the mainframe at the rear by the pin 13 extending downwardly therefrom through a' suitable'aperture in the horizontal arm of the angular bracket 14 secured to the centerof the rear portion of the main frame 10. A helically-coiled contractile spring15 surrounds this pin between the seat and the bracket 14 to cushion the rear of the seat. The front of the seat is supported by a pair of similar pins 13, one near each side of the seat, which pass through suitable apertures in the cross piece 11, and the helically-coiled,

expanding, cushioning springs 15 are interposed between the seat and the bar or cross piece 11 to cushion the front end of the seat.

The main frame has extension pieces 16. at each side of the rear, extending rearwardly and downwardly, and having spindles 17 thereon forming bearings for the small wheels 18 customarily employed in this class of devices; Brace rods 19, extending diagonally .upward andinward to the center of the rear of the main frame, are riveted thereto adjacent the bracket -14, and serve to strengthen the extensions. I preferably employ on each side an upwardly directed extension 20, the outer end of which, together with the wheels 18, form, as it were, four legs upon which the sulky will stand in its collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 3, the

center of gravity falling within the base formed bythese four points of support.

The wheel frames 21 are in their general outline shaped like a truncated triangle, and are preferably stamped up from. sheetm-etal, and have the sides 22 formed there on, and the upper portions of said sides extend beyond the, frames to form bearing cars 23, through which passes the pivoted rod 24, which also passesthrough somewhat similar ears 25 formed in the sheet-metal bearing plate 26, which is riveted to the interior ofthe side pieces of themain' frame 10. Helically-coiled'torsion springs 27 surround'the rod 24'and have oneend engaging the bearing plate 26, whilethe other end engages the top of the wheel frame 21, so that when the torsion spring 27 is free to act, the wheel frames, with the wheels 28 j ournaled on the lower ends thereof in any desired manner, are swung into a substan tially horizontal position beneath the main frame, 6., the springs cause the automatic collapse of the wheel frames and wheels when said wheel frames are released. These wheel frames are provided on their inner faces with the cam plates 29, which have cam surfaces 30 and hooks or stops 31. Pivoted to the sides of the main frame 10, by rivets 32, is the generally U-shaped erecting frame 33, which is preferably formed of a metallic bar having the straight central portion with the vertical sides 34, the short horizontal portions 35, and the still shorter vertical portions 36, through which the rivets 32 pass, the offset formed by the portions 35 and 36 being necessitated to enable the frame to clear the supporting plate 26. When the frame 33 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, it is out of engagement with the cams 30, but when it is swung downward and rearward from that position, as it is in the movement of erecting the sulky, the lower portions of the side pieces 34 engage the cams 30 and throw the wheel frames to their vertical or erected position, the final downward movement of the frame 33 being limited by the hooks" 31. To control the movement of this erecting frame 33, I provide the sliding frame 37, which, as is best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, is constructed of a bar of metal bent into a U-shape, the forward end of the bar being attached to the handle 38 by the connections to be hereinafter described. This sliding frame 37 is guided by being passed through two U-shaped bearing loops 39 formed of sheet-metal and secured to the under side of the cross piece 11 of the main frame. The ends 40 of this sliding frame 37 are turned down and pivoted to the sides 34 of the erecting frame. A strong helicallycoiled contractile spring 41 has its rear end secured to the main portion of the erecting frame 33, while its other end is secured to the cross piece 11 of the main frame 10, with the result that the tension of the spring 41 tends to pull the erecting frame into the collapsing position and to allow the springs 27 to swing the wheel frames into their collapsed position. To hold the parts in their erected position against this tendency, I employ the lock 42, best shown in Fig. 6, which is pivoted at 43 to the sliding frame 87, and has the hooked nose 44 engaging the cross piece 11 so as to prevent the sliding frame 37 moving forward on the main frame, as it'must during the erecting movement. A wire spring 45 coiled about the pivot 43 has one end secured under the sliding frame 37, and the other end secured under the nose of the hook 42, so that the spring 45 holds the hook normally in looking, engagement. A wire 46 having its lower end secured in the hook 42 extends forwardly alongside the sliding frame 37, by which it is suitably supported and terminates in a ring 48 which is engaged and pulled when the sulky is to be collapsed.

l Vhen it is'th'us pulled, the catch 42 is released and the sliding frame 37 is free to move forward with the erecting frame 33 to collapse the wheel frames in the manner already described.

Pivoted to the forward portion of the sides of the sliding frame 37, at 49, are the ends of the generally V-shaped standard 50, which is also preferably formed of a bar of sheet-metal and has its lower end adapted to rest on the ground when the parts are in their erected position, if the tongue be dropped. When the sulky is collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, the standard is swung rearwardly and beneath the sliding frame 37 by the action of the link 51, which is pivoted at its forward end to one side of the standard 50, and has its rear end pivoted to a lug or ear 52. secured to and extending downward from the. under side of the cross piece 11 of the main frame 10. Owing to the fact that the main frame is stationary during the collapsing movement, pivotal connection of the link 51 with the standard 50 serves as a fulcrum, and the relative forward movement of the sliding frame 37 applies power tothe stand ard 50, considered as a lever, to move it to the collapsed position.

I preferably employ a foot rest, which consists of a pair of metal bars 53 pivoted at their forward ends to the standard 50, and having their rear ends pivoted to the links 54, which links have their other ends pivoted to lugs or brackets 55 extending downward from the under side of the cross piece 11. The bars 53 are preferably connected by slats 56 to form the body of the foot rest. With the connections thus described for the foot rest, it will be obvious that as the standard 50 is folded rearwardly and upwardly during the collapsing action, the foot rest will be simultaneously swung rearwardly to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3. r

The two similarly constructed side frames consist of vertical bars 57 and 53 connected by the arm rest 59 pivoted to the upper ends thereof. The lower end of the vertical bar 57 is pivoted directly to the outer side of the downturned end of the cross piece 11, while the lower end of the bar 58 is pivoted at 59 to a lug 60 projecting upward from the rear corner of the main frame 10. To cause the collapse of these side frames when the wheel of the bars 58, I preferably make the same separate so as to provide for an adjustment from the vertical position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the reclining dotted-line position shown in the same figure. To this end, the U-shaped back-frame 64, which preferably consists of a bar of sheet-metal bent into the U-shape shown, has its end pivoted to the inside of the same ears or lugs 60 to which the bars 58 are pivoted. It will be understood that a suitable back will be secured within the frame 64 in any desired manner. The back-frame 64 has projecting rearwardly, outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the slotted plates 66, and through the slots of these plates 66 are passed the curved ends 67 of the-wire bail 68,-the' ends being pivoted to the (inside of the bars 58 at 69. This bail normally hangs down in the full-line position shown in Fig. 1, but it may be swung up into the dotted-line position shown in said figure, and the back-frame 64 can then be swung back to the dotted-line position until the plates 66 engage the washers 70 surrounding the bail 68 and cooperating with the helically-coiled expanding springs 71 interposed between the loose washers 7 O and the fixed washers 72 secured on the bail toform a cushion for the back.

Between a pair of arms 73 projecting forward from the front of the sliding frame 37, as best seen in Fig. 4, I pivot the inner end of the tongue 38, the said tongue being preferably composed of a pair of parallel iron bars, which have their inner ends 74 formed at an angle to the main portion, and spaced apart by two bearing blocks 75 and 7 6, in which blocks is slidingly mounted the spring-pressed latch o-r bolt 77, which has the slightly deflected end 78 arranged to en ter the aperture 7 9 formed in the strike plate 80 and in the front of the sliding frame 37 when the tongue is extended, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The bolt 77 is con nected by the link 81 with a latch lever 82 formed with the bearing loop 83 pivoted on the rivet 84, having the collar 85 thereon connecting the two bars of the tongue 38. The plunger 77 has the helically-coiled expanding spring 86 interposed between the bearing block 7 5 and the washer 87 secured on the plunger. When the tongue is swung from the folded-over position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to the extended position shown in dotted lines, the end 78 of the latch engages the recess 79 automatically, and when the tongue is to be thrown back, pressure on the lever 82 releases the latch preliminary to throwing the tongue back. The bars constituting the tongue 38 are preferably separated at their outer ends to form a yoke to receive the handle 88, and between the bars at this point I place the locking abutment 89, which preferably consists of a rivet 9O surrounded by the collar 91, and on the back of the back rest frame 64, I pivot the catch 92, which is shaped as seen in Fig. 3, having the hook 93 and the tail piece 94. When the sulky has been collapsed, the handle is swung backward to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and as it reaches and passes that position, a block 95 placed between the bars constituting the handle 38 strikes the tail 94 of the latch 92 and swings it from the dotted-line position to the fullline position, in which the catch engages the locking abutment 89 automatically. The tongue engaging the spring metal of the back puts the latter under sufiicient tension so that it holds the lock firm until it is intentionally released by manipulating the latch when it is desired to erect the sulky.

The operation of the complete apparatus will be readily understood. Assuming that it is erected as shown in Fig; 1, and it is desired to collapse the same, the user swings the body of the sulky into a vertical position, bringing the ring 48 into convenient position for grasping when it is pulled, and

the parts automatically spring to the position shown in Fig. 8, except that'the handle is not folded back. The lever 82 is then pressed to unlock the handle, and the sulky may be dropped on the floor and the handle thrown down, when the latch 92 acts automatically to lock the handle in position, and the sulky can be picked up by the forward end of the sliding frame 37 and carried in the hand. If it is desired to set it down at any time while it is being carried, all that is necessary is to allow the extensions 20 and the wheels 18 to reach the ground, when the sulky is held in an upright position, asits center of gravity falls within the base formed by these four points. When it is desired to erect the sulky, the latch 92 is thrown back to release the tongue, which is then swung up into the vertical position, and the sulky can then be erected in one of three ways: either by balancing the sulky in its vertical position on the extensions 20 and pushing down on the handle, and through it on the sliding frame 37 or the top of the back frame 64 may be grasped and the said frame swung to its vertical position, carrying with it all the other parts to their erected position; or the bottom of the standard 50 may be grasped and pulled to its erected position, carrying with it all the other parts. When the parts have reached their erected position, the spring-pressed latch 42, shownf in Fig. 6, engages the cross piece 11 of the main frame and locks the sulky in said erected position, when it is ready for use.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

Nhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a collapsible sulky, the combination with a main frame, of a back-supporting frame foldable down on the main frame when the vehicle is collapsed, locking means for holding the back-supporting frame in its erected position, springs for throwing the back-supporting frame from its erected position to its collapsed position when said back-supporting frame is unlocked, a handle pivotally connected to the main frame and adapted to be folded down over the col.- lapsed back-supporting frame, and a catch to hold the handle and thereby all the parts in their collapsed position.

2. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof and adapted to be moved from collapsed to' erected position, and vice versa, a back-supporting frame pivoted to the upper side and rear of the main frame, locking means for holding said frames locked in their erected position, springs for throwing them from their erected to their collapsed position when said frames are unlocked, a handle pivotally connected to the main frame and adapted to be folded down over the collapsed back-supporting frame, and a catch to hold the handle and thereby all the parts securely in their collapsed position.

3. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted thereto, cams secured to the wheel frames, an erecting frame pivoted to the main frame and adapted to cooperate with the cams to move the wheel frames totheir erected position or to be moved out of engagement therewith, springs interposed between the main frame and the wheel frames, and serving to throw the latter to their collapsed position when the bail is moved out of engagement with the cams, another spring interposed between the main frame and the erecting frame, tending to move the latter out of engagement with the cams, and locking means to hold the erecting frame in engagement with the cams.

4. In a collapsible vehicle, the combina tion with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted thereto and adapted to be moved from collapsed to erected position and vice versa, a standard pivoted relative v to the main frame and adapted to be swung at right angles thereto in its erected position, or substantially parallel thereto in its collapsed position, locking means for holding the wheel frames and standard locked in their erected position, and springs for throwing the wheel frames and standard from their erected to their collapsed position when they are unlocked.

5. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof and adapted to be moved from collapsed to erected position, and vice versa, a standard pivoted relative to the forward end of the main frame and adapted to be swung at right angles or substantially parallel to said main frame, a back-supporting frame pivoted to the top of the rear of the main frame and foldable down on the same when the vehicle is collapsed, locking means for holding the frame and standard locked in their erected position, and springs for throwing the frames and standard from their erected to their collapsed position when they are unlocked.

6. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof and adapted to be moved from collapsed to erect ed position, and vice versa, a standard piv oted relative to the forward end of the main frame and adapted to be swung at right angles or substantially.parallel to said main frame, a back-supporting frame pivoted to the top of the rear of the main frame and foldable down on the same when the vehicle is collapsed, locking means for holding the frames and standard in their erected position, springs for throwing the frames and standard from their erected to their collapsed position when they are unlocked, a handle pivotally connected to the main frame and adapted to be folded down over the collapsed back-supporting frame, and a catch to hold the handle and thereby all the parts securely in their collapsed position.

7. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof and adapted to be moved from collapsed to erected position, and vice versa, a standard pivoted relative to the forward end of the main frame and adapted to be swung at right angles or substantially parallel thereto, a foot-rest frame pivotally connected at one end to the standard and at the other end to the main frame, locking means for hold ing the standard and frames locked in their erected position, and springs for throwing the frames and standard from their erected -to their collapsed position when they are pivoted relative to the forward portion of the main frame and adapted to be swung at right angles or substantially parallel thereto, a foot-rest frame pivotally connected at one end to the standard and at the other end to the main frame, a back-supporting frame pivoted on the rear of the top of the main frame and foldable down thereon when the vehicle is collapsed, locking means for holding the frames and standard locked in their erected position, and springs for throwing the movable frames and the standard from their erected to their collapsed position when they are unlocked.

9. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted thereto, cams secured to the wheel frames, an erecting frame pivoted to the main frame and adapted to cooperate with the cams tomovethe wheel frames to their erected position or to be moved out of engagement therewith, a member sliding on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame to move the same, a backsupporting frame foldable down on the main frame when the vehicle is collapsed, connections between the back-supporting frame and the sliding member, a handle pivotally connected to the sliding member and adapted to be folded down over the collapsed back-supporting frame, and a catch to hold the handle and thereby all the parts securely in their collapsed position.

10. In a collapsible sulky, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of side frames pivoted thereto and adapted to be moved from erected to collapsed position, and vice versa, a back-supporting framepivoted to the side frames, adjustable: connections between the side frames and the back-supporting frame to vary the angle of the latter to the former when they are erected, locking means for holding said movable frames in their erected position, and springs for throwing the movable frames to their collapsed position when they are unlocked.

11. In a collapsible sulky, the combination with .a main frame, of a pair of side frames pivoted thereto and adapted to be moved from erected to collapsed position, and vice versa, a back-supporting frame pivoted to the main frame and connected to move with the side frames, adjustable connections between the back-supporting frame and the side frames to vary the angle of the former relative to the latter, said adjustable connec-' tions comprising a wire bail having hookshaped ends pivoted to the side frames, and slotted ears carried by the back-supporting frame, through which the sides of the bail pass, and means for collapsing and erecting said movable frames.

12. In a collapsible sulky, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of side frames pivoted thereto and adapted to be moved from erected to collapsed position, .and vice versa, a back-supporting frame pivoted to the main frame and connected to 'move with the side frames, adjustable connections be-' tween the back-supporting frame and the side frames to vary the angle of the former bail pass, helically-coiled expanding springs I interposed between the ears and the bail to cushion the back-supporting frame, and means for collapsing and erecting said movable frames.

13. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted on the under side thereof, body-supporting frames pivoted above the main frame, all of said pivoted frames mov able from collapsed to erected position, and vice versa, means'for erecting and collapsing said pivoted frames, and upwardly and downwardly projecting extensions from the rear of said main frame rigidly secured to .and forming a supporting base to hold the collapsed vehicle in a vertical position.

14:. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted on the under side thereof, body-supporting frames pivoted above the main frame, all of said pivoted frames movable from collapsed to erected position, and vice versa, means for erecting and collapsing said pivoted frames, upwardly and downwardly projecting extensions from the rear of said main frame forming a supporting base to hold the collapsed vehicle in a vertical position, and a pair of small wheels carried by thedownwardly projecting extensions in the horizontal plane of the axles of the wheel frames when the latter are erected.

15. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a frame having a pair of ears projecting therefrom, of a tongue pivoted between the ears, a sliding spring-pressed plunger carried by the pivoted end of the tongue, and an apertured strike-plate located on the frame between the ears.

16. In a collapsible vehicle, thecombination with a main frame, of a collapsible back-supporting frame pivoted to the top of therear thereof and foldable down onto the main frame, a locking catch pivoted on the rear of said back-supporting frame, a tongue pivoted at the forward end of the main frame, and a detent member carried by the tongue cooperating with the catch to automatically lock the tongue when itis thrown down on the collapsed back-supporting frame.

17. In a-collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted thereto, an erecting frame cooperating with the wheel frames, a sliding frame movable on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame, springs to throw the wheel frames to their collapsed position when the movement of the erecting frame permits, a spring connecting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, and locking means to hold the sliding frame iiXed relative to the main frame with the parts in their erected position. a

' 18. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of body-supporting frames pivoted on the upper side thereof, an erecting frame, a sliding frame movable on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame, a spring connecting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, connections between the sliding frame and the body-supporting frames to erect the latter as the sliding frame moves rearward, and locking means to hold the sliding frame fixed relative to the main frame with the parts in their erected position.

19. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof, an erecting frame cooperating with the wheel frames, a sliding frame movable on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame, springs to throw the wheel frames to their collapsed positions when the movement of the erecting frame permits, a spring connecting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, body-supporting frames pivoted on the upper side of the main frame, connections between the supporting frames and the sliding frame to erect the former as the latter is moved rearwardly, and locking means to hold the sliding frame fixed relative to the main frame with the parts in their erected position.

20. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof, an erecting frame cooperating with the wheel frames, a sliding frame movable on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame, springs to throw the wheel frames to their collapsed position when the movement of the erecting frame permits, a spring connecting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, a standard pivoted forward of the main frame, connections between the standard and the sliding frame to erect the standard as the sliding frame is moved rearward, and locking means to hold the sliding frame fixed relative to the main frame with the parts in their erected position.

21. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted to the under side thereof, an erecting frame cooperating with the wheel frames, a sliding frame movable on the main frame and connected to the erecting frame, springs to throw the wheel frames to their collapsed position when the movement of the erecting frame permits, a spring con necting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, a standard pivoted forward of the main frame, connections betwen the standard and the sliding frame'to erect the standard as the sliding frame is moved rearward, body-supporting frames pivoted to the upper side of the main frame, connections between the body-supporting frames and the sliding frame to erect the former as the latter is moved rearwardly, and locking means to hold the sliding frame fixed relative to the main frame with the parts in their erected position.

22. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivoted thereto, an erecting frame cooperating with the wheel frames, a sliding frame movable on the main frame, a standard pivotally connected to the sliding frame, link connections between the standard and the main frame, a foot-rest frame pivotally connected to the standard at its forward end and to the main frame at its rear end, springs to throw the wheel frames to their collapsed position when the movement of the erecting frame permits, a spring connecting the main frame and the erecting frame and tending to move the latter and the sliding frame, and locking means to hold the sliding frame fixed relative to the main frame with the various parts in their erected position.

23. In a collapsible vehicle, the combination with a main frame, of a collapsible frame pivoted on the top of the rear thereof and foldable down onto the main frame, a locking catch pivoted to one of said frames, a tongue pivoted at the forward end of the main frame, and a detent member carried by the tongue cooperating with the catch to automatically lock the tongue when it is thrown down on the collapsed frame.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this ninth day of December, A. D. 1914:.

RHINEHARDT H. BROWN. lVitnesses:

JOHN HOWARD MCELROY, JNo. Gr. ELLIOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

